The Special Education Crisis in Beverly Public Schools

Special education in Beverly Public Schools is reaching a breaking point. While the district has faced challenges for years, the proposed FY26 budget has made clear just how precarious the situation has become. Key services and supports for students with disabilities are on the chopping block. Testimony from educators, parents, and staff at the May 14, 2025 budget hearing paints a deeply concerning picture of staffing shortages, unsafe learning conditions, and unmet legal obligations. These are not abstract issues; they are impacting real children in real time.

Voices From the Front Lines

Educators and families came out in force and spoke up at the public hearing. They highlighted what they describe as a systemic failure to provide adequate services to students with disabilities:

• A district speech-language pathologist, warned that eliminating one of only three special education teachers at Hannah Elementary is "not just a staffing adjustment, it's a reduction in core instructional services" and a step backward in fulfilling the district's legal obligations under IDEA.
• A social worker and parent of a visually impaired preschooler, detailed how it took nine months to secure a trained paraprofessional to ensure her son’s physical safety. "These budget cuts do not simply reduce spending. They compromise safety, limit access, and undermine equity," she said.
• A speech-language pathologist criticized the lack of staffing analysis and said, "Our special education department is in crisis. Cutting even one student-facing position is not only irresponsible, it is unethical."
• A special education teacher in the Student Success Program (SSP) at the middle school, testified, "You're cutting staff from a program designed to keep students and staff safe. Without proper staffing, this program becomes dangerous."
• A social studies teacher in the high school SSP, explained the human impact: "I had one student tell me, 'This is the first time teachers have treated me like a human being.' Another said, 'You're my dad now.'"
• A counselor at Beverly Middle School, shared data showing that on average 8.3 special education roles were left unfilled every day this school year. "We haven't been staffed a single day this school year," she said. "We are chronically out of compliance, and it's not sustainable or legal."

The Legal and Moral Imperative

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Yet according to parent and staff testimony, Beverly is failing to deliver basic IEP services such as one-on-one support, specialized instruction, and evaluations. The systemic understaffing and resource constraints amount to de facto service denials for some of the district’s most vulnerable students.

The consequences of these failures go beyond legal risk and fiscal liability. They erode trust in public education, increase inequity, and put students at risk: physically, emotionally, and academically.

This is a Choice

Superintendent Charochak emphasized that 91% of the $12.7 million in ‘historic’ new funding over the past two years came from local sources. Yet, those increases have not even been enough to maintain a level-services budget the last two years due to inflation and contractual or legally mandated obligations. Yes, the increases are significant; but so are the cost pressures. It is difficult to celebrate historic funding when historic inflation continues to outpace it. This year’s budget proposal includes cuts to special education staffing in the following area:

• Special education teachers at every level
• Paraprofessional positions across the board
• Positions in the Student Success Programs (SSP)
• BPS Connects counselors
• Special Education Team Chair, OT Assistant, Behavior Assistant, Psychologist

These are not unavoidable consequences of enrollment trends or fiscal responsibility. These are deliberate choices that disproportionately affect students with the greatest needs. And as multiple speakers noted, families who know how to navigate the system may still get what they need. "But what about the families who don’t?" and "It becomes a numbers game, not a question of how we best support this student."

The Path Forward

Educators, parents, and advocates are not just raising alarms – they are offering solutions:

• Restore eliminated positions to meet basic compliance and ensure student safety.
• Conduct a real staffing analysis grounded in student needs, not budget limits.
• Prioritize transparency and collaboration with frontline educators.
• Invest in equity by funding the programs that serve those most at risk.

A petition opposing the cuts has already been signed by nearly 500 Beverly educators. That should be a wake-up call to all of us. The community is watching, and they are speaking with moral clarity.

Special education is not a luxury. It is a civil right. Beverly Public Schools is at a crossroads, and the decisions we make in this budget cycle will reveal what kind of community we truly are. We must fund our values. And if we say we believe in inclusion, in safety, and in equity – then our budget must reflect it.

Our students cannot afford more delays. The time to act is now. If you feel special education is worth funding, please reach out to your elected officials today.